BaddleBall

ABSTRACT

A method for using a basketball may include the steps of placing a backboard a predetermined distance from a chair, throwing the ball when a user is sitting in the chair, and scoring a point when the user throws the ball through a rim of the backboard. The method may include a step of retrieving the ball while sitting in the chair, and the method may include the step of using a retrieving device to return the ball. The method may include the step of allowing a new user to throw the ball, and the backboard may be at an angle with respect to the vertical. The retrieving device may include a flexible portion, and the retrieving device may include a handle. The backboard may include a slot for a foot.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to games and particularly those havinga basketball-type theme.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Basketball games are well known and have become extremely popular formany years. The basic apparatus for basketball play is deceptivelysimple. A play area or court includes a pair of goals positioned atopposite ends of the court. Each goal includes a support structure suchas a vertical post having a generally vertically planar backboard uponwhich a circular hoop is supported. In most instances, a generallyconical net is supported on the underside of the hoop to facilitate theobservation of a ball passing through the hoop successively. In additionto standard basketball apparatus, a number of sport, toy and noveltydevices having various degrees of similarity to standard basketball havebeen provided. Sport apparatus similar to standard basketball hasincluded the provision of scoring detectors and indicators as well asassociated sound producing devices. The basic objective of such sportapparatus has been the provision of various scoring indicators such aslights and sounds. For the most part, scoring detectors used in thescoring indicators of such apparatus utilize some type of pivotallysupported lever or paddle or other type member positioned beneath andextending into the hoop opening. The idea is to utilize the descent ofthe ball through the hoop opening to move the paddle or other extendingdevice thereby actuating a switch to complete detection of a successfulgoal. Various basketball-type games are known. Generally, the knownbasketball games require movement of the players and could create damagewhen played indoors, for example to furniture and other indoor articles.

Toy apparatus having a basketball type theme are, for the most part,smaller than sport apparatus and consequently utilize a smaller ball.The toy apparatus typically is similar in variation to the sportapparatus having a goal detector and indicator device. Novelty apparatusis found in devices such as a basketball hoop-type goal supported upon awaste basket. In such novelty devices, the objective is the utilizationof a wadded-up paper in place of a ball. The wadded-up paper is thenshot toward the basketball-type goal and descends through the goal intothe waste basket beneath.

Not surprisingly, the extended popularity of such a wide variety ofbasketball-type apparatus is reflected in a substantial number ofpatents having been granted thereon. For example, U.S. Pat. No.5,326,094 issued to Quinn sets forth an AUDIO SPORTS GAME utilizing anaudio message generator which selectively generates one of a pluralityof audio messages. The message generator is actuated by a switch andgenerates a message which presents a setting for a user of a sportsgame. The message is generated prior to and during the user's attempt tocause an object to pass through the hoop of a basketball-type goal orthe like.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,534,067 issued to Rubin sets forth an ADJUSTABLEBASKETBALL HOOP MOUNTING having a basketball hoop goal supporting a goaldetecting lever and a net. The goal is height adjustable by moving thehoop support upon an elongated vertical rod.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,593,758 issued to Holmdahl sets forth a SIGNAL MEANS FORBASKETBALL BASKETS having a hoop-type goal supporting a conical netwithin which a pivotally supported lever is positioned to be pivoteddownwardly by the descent of a ball through the hoop.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,244,569 issued to Wong sets forth a BASKETBALLPRACTICING APPARATUS for improving the accuracy of shooting abasketball. The apparatus includes a target such as a highly coloredball and apparatus extending below the basketball hoop for holding thetarget at the center of the hoop. The holding apparatus permits thetarget to be easily deflected to allow a basketball to fall through thehoop.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,913 issued to Mower, et al. sets forth anINDOOR/OUTDOOR PORTABLE BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD having a pivotallysupported lever extending beneath a basketball hoop for detecting thedescent of a ball therethrough. A scoreboard apparatus is operativelycoupled to the detector and responds to ball detection by altering thescoring depiction.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,680 issued to Amron sets forth a BASKETBALL GOALSIMULATOR having a rim formed of a conductive material and afrusto-conical net suspended from the rim. A ball adapted to fit withinthe rim includes an outer surface of conductive material such than anelectric circuit is completed whenever the ball strikes the rim whilepassing therethrough.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,552 issued to Gomez, et al. sets forth aBASKETBALL-TYPE AMUSEMENT DEVICE having an elongated generallyrectangular frame structure supporting a throwing position at one endand a basketball goal at the remaining end. The backboard is offset froma rotary drive system to carry the backboard and the hoop through ahorizontally disposed art. Confining walls are provided in the form ofan open front structure which is open at the throwing position. A flooris supported within the elongated frame for returning the ball to theshooter.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,259 issued to Segan, et al. sets forth a GAMEAPPARATUS INCLUDING BASKETBALL, PINBALL AND TARGET BOWLING in which acombined assembly supports a plurality of games and a commonscorekeeping and control system.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,418,517 issued to Matherne, et al. sets forth aBASKETBALL SCORING APPARATUS having a pivotally supported lever beneatha basketball hoop coupled to a scoreboard indicator. Detecting meanswithin the lever support provide output signals to the scoring indicatoras a ball descends through the hoop.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,762,569 issued to Hale sets forth a DEVICE FORCONVERTING A CONTAINER INTO A FIGURE TO SIMULATE AN INTERACTIVE GAMEwhich includes a headboard in the shape of the head of the figure, aclip attached to the headboard for securing the headboard to thecontainer and a sensor supported at the lower end of the clip forgenerating an electrical signal in response to impact from an objectprojected by the game player.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,237 issued to Yu sets forth a BASKETBALL GAMEASSEMBLY having a board and a ring secured thereto. The board includesan opening formed in the middle portion and has a door panel pivotallycoupled to the board for closing the opening. A beam has one endpivotally coupled to the board and the other end extending into thering. A lever couples the beam to the door panel. The door panel can beopened by the lever when the beam is depressed by a basketball.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,570 issued to Bear sets forth a STUFFED ANIMAL WITHREMOVABLE BASKET FOR A BALLGAME having a stuffed figure resembling abear in a seated position with arms forward. A basketball structure isremovably secured between the forwardly extending arms and includes anet extending down between the legs of the seated figure. U.S. Pat. No.4,955,605 issued to Goldfarb sets forth a HOME BASKETBALL APPARATUShaving a basketball shooting game device which includes a basketballhoop releasibly securable to the back of a chair or the like.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,195 issued to McMahan, et al. sets forth a NOVELTYBASKETBALL GOAL PRODUCING SOUND EFFECTS ON MADE SHOT having a backboardand supported hoop and net securable to the upper rim of a wastebasket.The goal includes a force-activated sensor suspended within the net ofthe goal by wires which connect the sensor to a sound effects generator.The sensor will activate the sound generator when an object is passedthrough the basketball hoop.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,480,834 issued to Minami and U.S. Pat. No. 5,876,036issued to Mathis set forth examples of miniaturized basketball games inwhich a miniature version of a basketball goal and play apparatus isprovided.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,044 issued to Mazursky, et al. sets forth a WATERTOY having a fanciful figure supporting a basketball goal and a pair ofloosely driven hose elements which are coupled to a source of waterunder pressure. The hose elements cooperate to provide deflection of aball shot toward the basketball goal.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,979 issued to Blue sets forth a TABLE TENNIS STYLEGAME WITH BASKETBALL BACKBOARDS, HOOPS, NETS AND FOAM BALL in which atable tennis table is provided with a pair of basketball backboards andgoals on each side of the transverse net.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,699 issued to Zaruba sets forth a BASKETBALL GAMEhaving two hoops supported upon a common backboard while U.S. Pat. No.5,222,259 issued to Bristor sets forth a SHIRT WITH REMOVABLE BASKETBALLHOOP.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,011,311 to Hochfeld discloses a method for playing agame with a ball in which a basket assembly defining at least twoopenings receivable of the ball is mounted to a ceiling or otherelevated horizontal surface and one or more players are positioned in ahorizontal, lying down position face up below the basket assembly. Eachplayer throws the ball upward, when lying down, toward a respectiveopening. Points are scored by each player when the ball enters into therespective opening.

An alternative basketball-type game is described in U.S. Pat. No.4,900,036 which describes a curved vertically, oriented frontboardhaving three ball-receiving openings and supporting members whichsupport the frontboard on a basketball backboard and hoop. The objectiveof the game using the frontboard is to throw the ball through one of theopenings in the frontboard with the hoop playing no part in the gameother than to serve as a support for the front board.

In this alternative game, the players still have to be in a standingposition and move around relative to the frontboard.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,153 to Stewart discloses a game that includes a baseand a toy figure holding a basketball-type hoop. The toy figure isresiliently supported upon the base by a spring support. A sensing leveron the figure responds to the passage of a ball through the hoop toprovide a first switch condition. A motion sensor within the figureresponds to impacts against the figure to provide a second switchcondition. A sound and control circuit is operative within the figureand responds to the switch conditions to play appropriate audiblemessages from a stored memory set.

While the foregoing described prior art devices have to some extentimproved the art and have in some instances enjoyed commercial success,there remains nonetheless a continuing need in the art for evermoreimproved, interesting and amusing basketball-type games.

SUMMARY

A method for using a basketball may include the steps of placing abackboard a predetermined distance from a chair, throwing the ball whena user is sitting in the chair, and scoring a point when the user throwsthe ball through a rim of the backboard.

The method may include a step of retrieving the ball while sitting inthe chair, and the method may include the step of using a retrievingdevice to return the ball.

The method may include the step of allowing a new user to throw theball, and the backboard may be at an angle with respect to the vertical.The retrieving device may include a flexible portion, and the retrievingdevice may include a handle.

The backboard may include a slot for a foot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be understood by reference to the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the backboard of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the system of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates additional aspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates the backboard 102 of the present invention. Thebackboard 102 of the present invention is substantially rectangular inshape and may include a convex curved top 106. The backboard 102additionally includes a bottom 108 which includes slots 104 to acceptfeet 140 in order to maintain the backboard 102 at an angle with respectto the vertical. The backboard 102 includes various types of indiciawhich may include target indicia 110 and logo indicia 112. The backboard102 additionally includes a rim 114 which projects outwards from thebackboard 102 which may be a standard rim 114 for basketball or could bea smaller or larger version of the standardized rim. Attached to the rim114 is a net 116 which may be conical shaped in order for the users tomore easily view if a basket has been made. Points are obtained when theuser throws the ball through the rim 114.

FIG. 2 illustrates a user 130 throwing the ball 132 while sitting inchair 134 attempting to throw the ball 132 through the rim 114.

FIG. 2 additionally illustrates feet 140 which is placed in slot 104 inorder to maintain the backboard 102 in an upright position which isangled with respect to the vertical in order to provide for the user toplace the ball within the rim 114.

FIG. 3 illustrates accessories for the present invention. Illustrated inFIG. 3 is a ball 132 and a retrieving apparatus 150 which includes aelongated longitudinal handle 152 to extend the reach of the user 130 sothat the ball 132 can be retrieved without the need for the user toleave the chair 134. An end of the elongated longitudinal handle 152includes a flexible portion 154 which may be of a larger diameter thanthe handle 152. The flexible portion 154 may be made from sponge orother suitable material in order that the user 130 does not damagefurniture or other users 130 and can retrieve the ball 132.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by wayof example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It shouldbe understood, however, that the description herein of specificembodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particularforms disclosed.

1) A method for using a basketball, comprising the steps of: placing abackboard a predetermined distance from a chair; throwing the ball whena user is sitting in the chair; scoring a point when the user throws theball through a rim of the backboard. 2) A method for using a basketballas in claim 1, wherein the method includes the step of retrieving theball while sitting in the chair. 3) A method for using a basketball asin claim 1, wherein the method includes the step of using a retrievingdevice to return the ball. 4) A method for using a basketball as inclaim 1, wherein the method includes the step of allowing a new user tothrow the ball. 5) A method for using a basketball as in claim 1,wherein the backboard is at an angle with respect to the vertical.
 6. Amethod for using a basketball as in claim 1, wherein the retrievingdevice includes a flexible portion.
 7. A method for using a basketballas in claim 1, wherein the retrieving device includes a handle.
 8. Amethod for using a basketball as in claim 1, wherein the backboardincludes a slot for a foot.